The San Francisco 49ers suffered a surprising setback in their loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Less than 48 hours after the game, quarterback Brock Purdy was added to their injury report. Coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Purdy is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol. This unexpected development leaves backup Sam Darnold to step in at practice while Purdy recovers. The timing of Purdy’s symptoms was unusual, as they only appeared after the team’s return to the Bay Area. Shanahan mentioned, “We finally found that out when we landed. We were all pretty asleep but then he got all checked up yesterday and now he’s in the protocol.”
Unclear Timing of the Injury
Shanahan and the 49ers were uncertain about when exactly Purdy sustained the concussion during the game. No obvious signs were observed during his performance, and Purdy did not take many hits. However, he did attempt a pair of quarterback sneaks in the fourth quarter. The lack of clarity surrounding the timing of the injury makes it challenging to determine its severity and potential impact on Purdy’s availability for the upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The diagnosis of a concussion now raises doubts about Purdy’s ability to play against the Bengals. Shanahan mentioned that Purdy does have sufficient time, according to the rules of the concussion protocol, to clear it prior to the game. It is worth noting that the 49ers have previously dealt with a similar situation this season. Guard Jon Feliciano returned to play in Week 5 after suffering a concussion in Week 4. Nevertheless, the compressed timeframe due to the short week and the necessity to play on Sunday puts pressure on Purdy’s recovery process.
Purdy’s Progress in the Concussion Protocol
The 49ers conducted a walkthrough on Wednesday afternoon, primarily due to the limited time available for recovery. Shanahan mentioned that Purdy already felt better on Wednesday compared to Tuesday and would participate in parts of the walkthrough as he progresses through the protocol. Interestingly, there is no specific day set for Purdy to clear the protocol. Shanahan referred to a previous instance when Purdy played without practicing, demonstrating that the quarterback’s performance was not significantly affected. The coach stated, “Brock didn’t take a practice rep… until pregame warmups, and he had to shut those down a little bit too… So, he didn’t really get a real rep that week until play 1 and he played pretty good. So, probably stick with that.”
In case Purdy is unable to play against the Bengals, Sam Darnold will step up as the backup quarterback. Darnold was signed as a free agent in March and won the backup job over Trey Lance. Although he has only seen limited playing time this season, Shanahan expressed confidence in Darnold’s readiness to take the field if needed. The coach praised Darnold’s performances during the offseason and throughout the first seven weeks of the season, stating, “He was great in the offseason. He’s been great here in these seven weeks so far and he’s always ready to go.”
Trent Williams’ Injury
Aside from Purdy’s situation, left tackle Trent Williams also suffered an injury. Williams sprained his right ankle and did not play against the Vikings. This absence was partially due to the upcoming game against the Bengals and also because of concerns with the artificial playing surface in Minnesota. Shanahan mentioned that Williams could potentially return to practice as soon as Thursday, although there is currently no definitive timeline for his return. Shanahan clarified, “He wouldn’t have been out there close to 100%.”
The San Francisco 49ers face a significant challenge with quarterback Brock Purdy’s addition to the injury report. The uncertainty surrounding the timing of his concussion and the compressed timeframe for recovery make it difficult to predict his availability for the upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, backup quarterback Sam Darnold provides a potential solution if Purdy is unable to play. Additionally, the team must also monitor left tackle Trent Williams’ sprained ankle and decide on his return. The 49ers’ ability to adapt and overcome these injuries will be crucial for their success moving forward.
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